Sax Goes to Yankees for 3 Years, $4 Million : Free Agent Says He Was Upset With Claire’s Aloof Approach to Negotiations

Saying he sensed an aloofness in the approach of Dodgers’ Executive Vice President Fred Claire and a lack of real respect, free-agent second baseman Steve Sax yielded to the aggressive pursuit of the New York Yankees and signed a 3-year, $4-million contract Wednesday night.

Sax, who was paid $800,000 in 1988, will receive a $500,000 signing bonus, a $1.1-million salary in 1989, a $900,000 salary in 1990 when there is the threat of a labor strike and a $1.5-million salary in 1991.

In addition, the contract includes a no-trade provision in 1989 and Sax has been given veto rights over 14 clubs in the event of a possible trade in 1990 or ’91.

If he is traded in either of those years, he will receive an additional $100,000 from the Yankees.

Speaking by phone from the LaJolla office of attorneys Jerry Kapstein and Bob Teaff, Sax said he repeatedly told the Dodgers that he was signable at $3.95 million for 3 years, but their best offer was $3.5 million.

“There were two factors,” he said of his decision to join the Yankees. “One was the extent of the Yankee package and its significant difference with what the Dodgers were offering. The other was the attitude of Fred Claire compared to (Yankee General Manager) Bob Quinn.”

Sax said he and Kapstein met with Quinn in New Jersey late last week, then flew to Florida to meet with Yankee owner George Steinbrenner. He said both displayed an aggressive sincerity. Both, he said, convinced him he was respected and wanted.

“There was a great difference in tone,” he said of the negotiations with the Yankees and Dodgers.

“I thought I’d be treated special (by the Dodgers) after we won the World Series, but I felt like I was just another number and that was the biggest reason I left. It was a turn-off.

“Bob Quinn made me feel welcome and respected. Fred Claire talked down to me. He was aloof. He made me feel like a punk kid.”

Sax said that on the night of the Dodgers’ initial self-imposed deadline (Nov. 4), when the Dodgers offered $2.3 million for 2 years, Claire told him, “If you think you can get a better deal . . ., go ahead and leave.’ So I did.”

Sax said he told Kapstein after that meeting that he never wanted to play for the Dodgers again, but that Kapstein reminded him of some valued associations he would be leaving, prompting Sax to reconsider and renegotiate when Claire lifted the deadline.

“I’ll miss the manager, the coaches, the camaraderie of my teammates and the fans, but that’s all I’ll miss,” he said in another jab at Claire, who, when told of Sax’s reaction, said:

“He’s free to respond in any way he wants, but I certainly feel we made a number of efforts to sign him. I made a point to tell him on several occasions that he was important to the club and that we had a real desire to sign him.”

With Sax now ticketed to replace Willie Randolph as the Yankee second baseman, Claire reflected and said:

“I’m surprised and disappointed. We didn’t turn over a blank contract and say, ‘fill in the amount,’ but we made a number of moves and showed a determination to negotiate in good faith.”

Illustrating that determination, Claire cited:

--His decision to “go the extra mile” and lift his original deadline, hoping to sign Sax and Mike Marshall, who ultimately agreed to a 3- year, $3.5-million contract with the Dodgers.

--A willingness to improve his offer to Sax from $2.3 million for 2 years to $3.2 for 3, then $3.5 for 3.

--His desire, as expressed to Sax Wednesday, as well as on several previous occasions, to have Sax provide the Dodgers with any other club’s best offer so that the Dodgers could consider meeting it or beating it. Sax, Claire said, refused to do that.

“We called Steve this morning in the hope of continuing negotiations,” Claire said, “but he had obviously made up his mind. We wish him the best. We appreciate what he has done for us.

“We not only have to replace a second baseman, but a leadoff hitter as well. He made contributions offensively and defensively. It means a bigger rebuilding job than we anticipated, but we’ll go on. We’ve had to make moves and replace players before.”

In his seventh full season with the Dodgers, Sax, 29 in January, batted .277, drove in 57 runs and stole 42 bases. The Dodgers will be hard pressed to replace him from within their own system unless Mariano Duncan regains his lost form and drive, in addition to resolving his chronicled differences with Manager Tom Lasorda.

A source within the organization said the Dodgers have already considered moving Juan Bell, one of at least four promising young shortstops in their farm system, to second base, but Bell, 20, is thought to require a full season at triple A.

The more likely alternative is the signing of a stopgap veteran through free agency. The Dodgers offered Tom Herr 2 guaranteed years at $1.8 million, but he elected to live at home and play for the nearby Philadelphia Phillies.

Among the middle infielders still available are Scott Fletcher, Ron Oester and Randolph, the 13-year veteran and Yankee captain who hit .230 at 34 and is coming off 2 injury-marred seasons.

Sax leaves the Dodger problems behind him, but he may face some of his own. How will he handle the inevitable Yankee turmoil? Can a California native who was quoted earlier this year as saying he could never live in New York now find that he can?

“When you keep getting your brains beat out (as the Mets did to the Dodgers during the regular season), there’s a chance you might get a little emotional,” Sax said of his statements regarding New York. “Actually, I’ve always loved the enthusiasm of the fans and I’ll go there with a totally open mind. George Steinbrenner wants to win and so do I. I’m sure I can be happy there.”

The Yankees’ new manager, Dallas Green, said Sax will bat second behind Rickey Henderson. Green said he was already excited about that prospect and that he encouraged Steinbrenner and Quinn to pursue Sax.

“Any manager would jump at the opportunity to sign Steve Sax,” Green said. “He’s a .285 career hitter who plays 150 to 155 games every year, is aggressive, knows how to hit and run, cares about winning and knows how to do it. He’s what every player should be.”

Tone. Sax understandingly liked the sound of the Yankees’.